More than a job

July 17, 2014

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Editor’s note: The “Meet the” series profiles the people behind groups, organizations and businesses in the community.

By Lillian Bowe
Staff writer
lbowe@pntonline.com

Serenity and Scott Richardson are no strangers to being parents. The Richardson’s have an 11-year-old son and have been foster parents for five years, so when the opportunity to become full-time parents came, they took it.

The married couple applied to five children’s homes across the country and said they were called to come to the New Mexico Baptist Children’s Home.
“Our boss at the time told us that here they want the kids to have a normal life as possible and then we knew this was the place to be,” Serenity Richardson said.

Serenity Richardson said she was her church’s children’s director for 10 years and Scott Richardson has been a teacher for 20 years at their home in Louisiana.

“Sometimes the kids make fun of our accent or our expressions. I always say ‘Come see’ and they kids are so confused. They are use to ‘Come here,’ not ‘Come see,’” Scott Richardson said.

Lillian Bowe: Staff writerHouse mother Serenity Richardson plays with Sam Penal, 2, on Thursday at the Baptist Children’s Home. Richardson and her husband Scott have been house parents for a year. The couple moved from Louisiana to take positions at the home.

One of the things from Louisiana the children do not make fun of is the food. The couple has cooked gumbo, boiled crawfish and many other dishes.

“We have made them honorary Cajuns,” Scott Richardson said.

The couple both agree that getting to know the children and being around them is the best part of the job.
“Our job is being parents and its the best job,” Serenity Richardson said.

Teresa Howard might not be a house mom at the home, but the children are her favorite part of the job she does at the home.
“The children are so fun to be around,” Howard said.

Howard is the director of marketing and communication and has been the director of finance. Howard has worked at the home for 17 years and the whole time has been a blessing.

Growing up in Rogers, Howard always knew about the home and when a job opportunity came up, she took it.

Howard’s job is to promote the home and said every day is different. Howard said she likes to work with people and getting the word out on the home.
“I don’t see this as a job, but as a ministry,” Howard said.